Study of the effect of inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the ventral hippocampus on cognitive changes induced by repeated restraint stress

• Grant number: 23/12262-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Busnardo Santiago
• Grantee: Higor de Souza Paz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/04899-1 - Genetic study of hypocampus glutamate neurotransmission in central mechanisms of the adaptation of neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and behavioral responses to repeated chronic stress and stress-induced neuroinflamation, AP.JP

Abstract

The survival and adaptation of all species to stressful and aversive situations depend on the generation of physiological and behavioral responses. Although these responses are important in the short-term, repeated or prolonged activation of them during, for example, chronic exposure to stressful events can cause morphofunctional dysfunctions, which in turn can lead to diseases. In this sense, clinical and preclinical studies have shown cognitive impairment after exposure to chronic stressful events. Despite the importance of these data, the related neurobiological mechanisms are still poorly understood. Thus, the present study aims to test the hypothesis that glutamatergic neurons in the ventral hippocampus are involved in memory impairment involving motivated tasks caused by chronic stress. To test this hypothesis, we will evaluate the effect of inactivation of glutamatergic neurons in the ventral hippocampus using the Designer Receptors Activated Only by Designer Drugs (DREADD) technique on the changes induced by a repeated restraint stress protocol in the learning process and non-emotional memory assessed on the novel object recognition test.